Ingredients
- ½ tbsp oil or water (if oil-free)
- 1 medium (110 g) onion, chopped
- 1 cup (150 g) carrot, chopped
- ¾ cup (80 g) bell pepper, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2-inch (5 cm) fresh ginger, minced
- ½ tbsp curry powder
- ¾ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ¾ tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup (125 g) passata or tomato sauce
- 2 cups (500 g) pumpkin puree (canned or fresh)
- ½ to 1 cup (120–240 ml) vegetable broth
- ¾ cup (180 ml) canned coconut milk (full-fat preferred)
- 6–8 leaves fresh kale, chopped (or spinach)
- Fresh herbs for garnish (e.g. parsley, cilantro)
- Lime or lemon juice to drizzle
- Cooked rice to serve
Instructions
- If using fresh pumpkin, preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Cut pumpkin into quarters, scoop out seeds, peel, rub with oil, and roast 40–60 minutes until tender (or roast 1-inch chunks ~30 minutes).
- Puree most of the roasted pumpkin in a blender or food processor, reserving some chunks if desired.
- Chop onion and carrot finely, cut bell pepper into bite-sized pieces, and mince garlic and ginger.
- Heat oil or a splash of water (for oil-free) in a large pan over medium heat.
- Sauté chopped onion, carrot, and bell pepper for 4–5 minutes until they begin to soften, stirring often.
- Add minced garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add curry powder, ground turmeric, ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper; stir to combine and briefly toast spices.
- Stir in passata, pumpkin purée, vegetable broth, and coconut milk; mix well.
- Bring mixture to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook 5–8 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- If using, stir in drained cooked chickpeas and heat through.
- Add chopped kale and simmer 1–2 minutes until just wilted, then remove from heat.
- Taste curry and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, or a squeeze of lemon/lime as needed.
- (Instant Pot option) Use Sauté function to cook onion, carrot, and bell pepper in oil about 3 minutes.
- Add garlic and ginger, stir 1 minute, then add spices and stir to bloom.
- Add passata, pumpkin purée, vegetable broth, and coconut milk; stir, seal lid, set to Manual/High pressure for 2 minutes.
- Quick-release pressure carefully and open lid.
- Stir in chickpeas and chopped kale; close lid to let kale wilt in residual heat for a few minutes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
Notes
Blooming spices in oil (or broth for oil-free) enhances flavor and aroma., Adjust vegetable broth amount based on the moisture content of pumpkin purée for desired sauce consistency., For chunkier curry, reserve some pumpkin chunks and stir in at end; for silky sauce, blend part of the curry and stir back in., Use full-fat coconut milk for richest creaminess; light coconut milk or dairy-free cream (like oat or soy) can also be used but with mild flavor differences., Avoid canned pumpkin pie mix as it is sweetened and spiced, use plain canned or homemade pumpkin purée instead., To avoid Instant Pot burn warnings, deglaze pot bottom after sautéing and use higher broth amount if sauce is thick before pressure cooking., Add greens at the end to wilt while retaining bright color and tenderness., Season final curry with a squeeze of citrus and optionally a pinch of garam masala or cinnamon for aroma., Protein additions like chickpeas, lentils, tofu, or tempeh can make the meal more filling., Sprinkle toasted cashews, pumpkin seeds, or shredded coconut for crunchy texture and extra flavor., Curry stores well in fridge for 3-4 days or freezer for 2-3 months; flavors improve after resting a day., When reheating, add broth or coconut milk if sauce is thick or dry., Oil-free version: sauté veggies in broth or water and add spices with some water, stir constantly to avoid burning., Serve with naan, basmati, jasmine, white or brown rice, or cauliflower rice for low-carb option., For spicier curry, add fresh chili, chili paste, cayenne, or chili powder; topping with dairy-free yogurt helps mellow heat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 30-60 minutes roasting if using fresh pumpkin)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approximately 250 calories per serving (varies by exact ingredients and servings)
- Fat: 12 g per serving (mainly from coconut milk)
- Carbohydrates: 30 g per serving
- Protein: 6 g per serving (varies with chickpea addition)